Gasoline Prices  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for splitting his time with me. I am honoured to have the opportunity to speak on behalf of my electors who are deeply preoccupied by the fluctuating and rising price of gasoline and who are indeed angered by this phenomenon. I share their frustration as a motorist and as their representative.

Civil Marriage Act  Mr. Speaker, I will be voting in favour.

An Act to Authorize the Minister of Finance to Make Certain Payments  Mr. Speaker, I have a short question for the hon. member. Given that under Bill C-48 new spending only comes into effect if there is a federal budget surplus of $2 billion or more, would the member not call that budget bill a no deficit budget bill?

An Act to Authorize the Minister of Finance to Make Certain Payments  Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate the member on his family and wish all members of his family success. Does he not think that a young couple starting out would not be more likely to want to start a family if they knew that there was a well publicly financed health care system available to help them along the way?

Breast Cancer  Mr. Speaker, cancer is a word that strikes fear in the hearts of all Canadians and breast cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of this terrible disease. Fortunately, there are many caring Canadians who in their determination to help find a cure for cancer have created new and original ways to raise funds for research.

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change  Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the hon. members of this House of the appointment of Jacques Bilodeau as Canada's ambassador to the Eleventh Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will be held in Montreal from November 28 to December 9, 2005.

Athletic Excellence  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise the accomplishments of Stephanie Horner, a 16 year old swimming champion from Beaconsfield, Quebec, in my riding of Lac-Saint-Louis. Stephanie has been awarded a bursary from the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence. The foundation was established to support worthy athletes in their quest for excellence.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions to present. The first two are from constituents who would like to see the government maintain the traditional definition of marriage.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, my third petition is signed by constituents who wish to express their ongoing opposition to the national missile defence project. The petitioners wish to express that they are against any future Canadian participation in the project.

The Environment  Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of the Environment. For the guidance of the Conservative members, who still do not understand that a healthy environment goes along with increased growth and economic prosperity, could the minister explain to the House what the new Liberal plan to deal with climate change means for the environment, for our economy and our quality of life, and for keeping our commitments under the Kyoto protocol?

The Environment  Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Natural Resources. The Government of Canada is delivering on one of its key Kyoto commitments, vis-à-vis emission reductions. Could the minister provide the House with further details of the voluntary emission reduction plan he signed in Windsor this morning with the Canadian auto sector?

Civil Marriage Act  Mr. Speaker, I will not be supporting the present bill to alter the existing definition of marriage. I assure my colleagues and constituents that I did not take this decision lightly. My reasons are secular and philosophically liberal. I favour equal legal and fiduciary rights and obligations for same sex couples but, like most Canadians, I believe opposite sex marriage has distinguishing features that make it worthy of its own designation.

Aerospace Industry  Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport. Yesterday the minister went to Mirabel with the Premier of Quebec to announce a project worth $725.6 million at Bell Helicopter. Can the minister tell us what the federal government's role was in this announcement and exactly what the announcement means to the Mirabel region?

Humanitarian Assistance  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in praise of a young Canadian, Stephanie Dotto, a resident of Kirkland, Quebec in my riding of Lac-Saint-Louis. At age 15, Stéphanie learned about the terrible toll poverty and disease have taken on Malawi. Stephanie's compassion for the plight of the people of Malawi inspired her to take action.

Veterans  Mr. Speaker, I too would like to join my other colleagues in paying my respects to the 14 women who were brutally murdered 15 years ago at École Polytechnique. I think what unifies all of us here is a desire to end violence. As today marks that 15th anniversary, we want to bring focus to the problem of violence against women, and urge the government to continue to do all it can to address this problem.